Ansan , South Korea -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Kang Min Kyu , 52 , taught ethics .

Kang , who was vice principal at Ansan 's Danwon High School , was rescued from the sinking Sewol ferry .

Just two days after the accident , he was found dead after apparently hanging himself using a belt from a tree in the city of Jindo . In a note , he expressed regret he had survived while so many others had died .

On a chilly Monday , around 4:30 a.m. , Kang 's coffin was led out of a funeral hall in a long , black hearse . It was too early for any sunlight .

There were no pallbearers carrying the coffin -- only a quick walking procession of his family members and what appeared to be about a hundred others dressed in black following the car through the parking lot .

No one spoke .

His family members -- one son , two daughters and his wife dressed in all-black traditional Korean wear followed the hearse . When they reached the end of the parking lot of the funeral home , they got into the car . The whole walk took less than five minutes before the mourners got in and drove in a line of cars headed to the crematorium .

Kang 's body had been found Friday in one of the small mountains near the Jindo Gymnasium where bereaved families are taking shelter , according to local police . He had gone to Jindo with the school in an effort to support families , said one fellow educator .

`` As the one in charge of the safety of the students , he was suffering from guilty feelings , '' another teacher had told Korean media . When some familes directed their anger at him , he became `` brokenhearted . ''

Over 300 students from the school and their teachers were aboard the ferry . Some are confirmed dead and and hope is dwindling that any more survivors will be found . 174 were rescued . Hundreds remain missing .

Police have confirmed the contents of a note , which Kang left behind .

He wrote that it was his idea for the field trip and that the deaths of the students were his fault . He said he could not live not knowing where his students are .

He also wrote that he wonders whether he could still be their teacher on the other side , in death .

Families protest over rescue operation

The note also expressed a request to be cremated and his ashes scattered where the Sewol had sank .

In Korean funerals , there are no ceremonies or eulogies -- they are a quiet , private affair .

People who wish to say farewell visit a funeral room and pay their respects to the deceased one 's family . The family members receive guests for about three days .

During this period , several students from the high school came to the funeral home to pay their respects to Kang 's family . Dressed in their school uniforms , they bowed to the family .

Outside the funeral hall , some of them spoke about Kang .

`` He was an ethics teacher , '' said freshman Choi Yoo Jung . `` I wonder if that 's why it was hard for him . He was such a good person . He really liked students a lot . ''

Another student , Kim Hyun Soo , also a freshman , said she felt it was too harsh for Kang to be blamed for what happened on the ferry .

`` The vice principal really liked students , '' she said . `` It seems like he was really hard on himself . I do n't think anyone should be blaming him . ''

His death elicited sorry and sympathy across South Korea . Messages of sympathy and grief have been outpouring on social media .

`` Teacher Kang Min Kyu , please rest in peace . Praying for the soul of the departed , '' tweeted @minifi_0309 .

`` We are so sorry ... '' tweeted Kim Min Hyuk , a senior at the high school , who tweeted the name of the vice principal along with the names of other dead teachers from the ferry tragedy .

Judging from the volume of flowers sent to his funeral room -- from ROTC , his high school classmates , his previous schools where he taught -- it appeared the educator for over 20 years was a well-respected one .

The day before the funeral procession , his family declined to be interviewed .

The hearse carrying his coffin traveled a few miles east and pulled into Danwon High School , circling the campus for one last time -- signifying Kang 's last visit to his school .

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Kang Min Kyu , 52 , was vice principal at Danwon High School

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Initially rescued from the sinking ferry , he was found dead two days later

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In a suicide note , he expressed regret he survived while others died